NOW TV launches most advanced box yet

January 29, 2016

Sky’s OTT TV streaming service NOW TV is to launch what it says is its most advanced TV box later this year. The brand new NOW TV Smart Box will bring together NOW TV’s wide range of pay TV content and over 60 live free-to-air channels. The addition of digital terrestrial television services pitches the device in competition with YouView and Freeview Play.

Additionally, customers with a NOW TV Box will see new a brand new interface (UI) roll out to their TVs from February 2016. The new-look UI will include a number of new features including a content-rich homepage offering editorial recommendations of what to watch across catch up TV apps and pay TV content from NOW TV. A new ‘Best of Catch Up’ section, curated by content partners, will also arrive showcasing all the best shows customers may have missed in one place.

Gidon Katz, Director of NOW TV said the launch of the new homepage would make it easier than ever for its customers quickly to find and watch their favourite shows. “And when the new NOW TV Smart Box arrives later this year, it will be the perfect one-stop box to get a contract-free, flexible way of watching the best of pay TV and free-to-air content all in one place,” he added

NOW TV worked with Silicon Valley based Roku Inc. to develop the new NOW TV Smart Box which will sit alongside the existing NOW TV Box, with pricing details and further information to be made available later in the year.

In October 2014, Sky made a further $0.7 million equity investment in Roku. This followed the total investments of $12.2 million made by Sky in Roku in July 2012 and May 2013, and was to provide financing for Roku’s operations and activities.

21st Century Fox, which held a 39.14 per cent controlling stake in the former BSkyB at the time, also made a further equity investment in Roku, alongside Sky.